Play enclosure having visually stimulating lighting

Abstract

A play enclosure is disclosed including an elongated conduit having a plurality of light admitting pinpoint apertures. The conduit is curved and has a diameter large enough to allow children to crawl through. A strobe light is suspended above the conduit. The pinhole apertures admit beams of light from the strobe light, which cast visually stimulating patterns on the internal wall of the conduit.

We claim: 
     
       1. A play enclosure, comprising: an elongated conduit defined by at least one conduit wall and having an interior cross-section large enough to allow children to crawl therethrough;   said conduit including a plurality of pinpoint apertures extending through said conduit wall, said pinpoint apertures having a diameter suitable for admitting a beam of ambient light into the interior of said elongated conduit such that each beam of ambient light shines on a respective exclusive portion of said conduit wall; and   a light source located external to said conduit, said light source positioned so that light from said light source passes through said apertures and into the interior of said conduit.   
     
     
       2. The play enclosure of claim 1 wherein said light source is spaced-apart from said conduit. 
     
     
       3. The play enclosure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of pinpoint apertures define at least two spaced-apart paths extending along the longitudinal extent of said conduit. 
     
     
       4. The play enclosure of claim 1 wherein said pinpoint apertures are approximately 3/16 of an inch in diameter. 
     
     
       5. The play enclosure of claim 1 wherein said conduit has at least one curve along its longitudinal extent. 
     
     
       6. The play enclosure of claim 5 further comprising a playhouse having an opening for receiving a longitudinal end of said conduit, wherein one longitudinal end of said conduit extends from said playhouse opening. 
     
     
       7. The play enclosure of claim 1 further comprising vapor disposed within said conduit. 
     
     
       8. A play enclosure, comprising: an elongated conduit defined by at least one conduit wall having a diameter large enough to allow children to crawl therethrough;   said conduit including a plurality of pinpoint apertures extending through the conduit wall;   said pinpoint apertures having a diameter suitable for admitting a beam of ambient light into the interior of said conduit, such that each beam of ambient light shines on a respective exclusive portion of said conduit wall;   said conduit also including at least one aperture that is larger than said pinpoint apertures; and   a light source mounted to said conduit over said larger aperture and adapted for casting light through said larger aperture into the interior of said conduit.   
     
     
       9. The play enclosure of claim 8 further comprising vapor disposed within said conduit. 
     
     
       10. The play enclosure of clam 8 wherein said light source is flashing light. 
     
     
       11. The play enclosure of claim 10 wherein said light source is a strobe light. 
     
     
       12. The play enclosure of claim 8 wherein said light source flashes at irregular intervals. 
     
     
       13. The play enclosure of claim 8 wherein said plurality of pinpoint apertures define at least one arcuate path along the wall of said conduit which at least partially circumscribes said larger aperture. 
     
     
       14. The play enclosure of claim 13 wherein said plurality of pinpoint apertures define a plurality of concentric circles that surround said larger aperture. 
     
     
       15. The play enclosure of claim 8 wherein at least a portion of said pinpoint apertures are in close proximity to said larger aperture such that light admitted by said large aperture is reflected from the interior of said conduit and out through said pinpoint apertures. 
     
     
       16. The play enclosure of claim 8 wherein said light source includes an open-ended, non-transparent housing for flush mounting to the exterior of said conduit, wherein said open end is positioned over said large aperture so that light emitted by said light source is not directly visible outside the conduit. 
     
     
       17. A play enclosure, comprising: an elongated conduit defined by at least one conduit wall and having an interior cross-section large enough to allow children to crawl therethrough;   said conduit including a plurality of pinpoint apertures extending through said conduit wall, said pinpoint apertures being narrower than the thickness of said conduit wall; and   a light source located external to said conduit, said light source positioned so that light from said light source passes through said apertures and into the interior of said conduit.   
     
     
       18. The play enclosure of claim 17 wherein said pinpoint apertures are suitable for admitting a beam of ambient light into the interior of said elongated conduit such that each beam of ambient light shines on a respective exclusive portion of said conduit wall.